Michigan Football: Initial Predictions for the Wolverines' 2017 Depth Chart
For Michigan football and head coach Jim Harbaugh, 2016 was a season of great highs and unrealized goals. The Wolverines improved again in Harbaugh’s second season in Ann Arbor, winning 10 games and finishing No. 10 nationally in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.
But following a 9-0 start that put the College Football Playoff within reach, Michigan finished 1-3 to end the year, with losses to Iowa, Ohio State and Florida State. The defeats came by a total of five combined points, with a double-overtime loss to the Buckeyes likely separating the Wolverines from a playoff bid.
Harbaugh has high goals, but to take another step forward in 2017, he'll have to reload. With Jabrill Peppers' announcement to Pete Thamel of SI.com that he's declaring for the NFL draft, Michigan is expected to lose 16 starters to graduation and the draft.
That will leave plenty of uncertainty on the depth chart and jockeying for position in spring practice and August workouts. How will it all unfold? Here's a look at all 22 offensive and defensive positions as 2017 unfolds. These are subject to change, but this is a best guess, given past production and potential ahead, about how Harbaugh's third Michigan team will look this fall.
QB: Wilton Speight, Sophomore
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Although he finished the season with three touchdowns and four interceptions in his final three games, Wilton Speight was more than capable in his first full season as a starter. He threw for 2,538 yards with 18 touchdowns against seven interceptions, completing 61.6 percent of his passes after winning a preseason battle for the job.
He'll have a firm hold on the job entering 2017, although backup John O'Korn, who was the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year as a Houston freshman, is a capable backup who won at Indiana while Speight was sidelined with an injury.
RB: Chris Evans, Sophomore
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Leading rusher De'Veon Smith will graduate, but it'll be interesting to see what Chris Evans can do with a full workload in the Michigan backfield. As a freshman, he carried the ball just 88 times but gained 614 yards, averaging 7.0 yards per carry with a pair of 100-yard games.
Tailback Drake Johnson, who missed all of last season with a hamstring strain, is expected to return for a sixth season and will likely have a key role in the backfield. Johnson has suffered a pair of ACL tears in his career but will provide a veteran presence alongside Karan Higdon and Kareem Walker.
FB: Khalid Hill, Senior
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While Khalid Hill's opportunities for impact were limited in Michigan's offense, he made the most of them. Hill had 25 carries for 39 yards, but 10 of them went for touchdowns, and he added three touchdown receptions through the air. The burly 6'2", 263-pound Hill is set to be the main blocking back in the offense. Henry Poggi will also see time at fullback.
WR: Drake Harris, Junior
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Michigan's wide receiver corps will take two major graduation hits with the departures of Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson, who combined for 92 catches, 1,362 yards and nine touchdowns. The Wolverines have a combined 23 catches returning, which means plenty of room for opportunity.
One player who'll take advantage is junior Drake Harris. He had two catches for 11 yards as a sophomore but has his best chance for playing time with a young group of receivers around him. Fellow junior Maurice Ways could also see a breakthrough in the passing game.
WR: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Freshman
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As we mentioned, Michigan has openings in its wide receiver corps. One of the players best positioned to make the most of it is freshman receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. He is a 5-star prospect and an early enrollee, meaning he’ll have the opportunity to go through spring practice and learn how his athleticism and speed fit in.
Fellow early enrollee Tarik Black will have a similar opportunity. Also, keep your eyes on sophomores Eddie McDoom and Kekoa Crawford. McDoom had a role in the offense as a jet-sweep specialist, but can he convert that to regular playing time?
TE: Tyrone Wheatley, Sophomore
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The Wolverine offense will miss Jake Butt, one of the nation’s top all-around tight ends. Butt made 46 catches for 546 yards and four touchdowns, all second on Michigan’s roster in 2016. Replacing him? Sophomore Tyrone Wheatley.
Wheatley, son of former Wolverines star, NFL player and current running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley, had two catches for 35 yards as a freshman but will see a bigger role this fall. Sophomore Devin Asiasi will also see significant action and battle Wheatley for the starting job.
LT: Grant Newsome, Junior
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Michigan's offensive line has questions despite returning three starters, and one of the biggest is left tackle Grant Newsome. He excelled as the starter but suffered a serious knee injury in October that led to him spending 38 days in the hospital before being released, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press.
His availability for 2017 is in question, but if he's healthy enough to play, Newsome can be a big piece on the line. If not, center Mason Cole spent his entire freshman season starting at left tackle.
LG: Ben Bredeson, Sophomore
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One of the steadiest parts of Michigan's line is Ben Bredeson, who is locked in as the starting left guard. Bredeson has excellent potential and should develop even more in his second year as a starter after making eight starts as a freshman.
C: Mason Cole, Senior
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Every offensive line needs a steady leader, and for Michigan, that guy is senior Mason Cole. He has started 37 consecutive games on the Wolverines offensive line, starting his first two seasons at tackle before moving inside as a junior. He has the versatility to start at tackle if necessary, which would mean Michigan could rely on freshman and early enrollee Cesar Ruiz at center. He has plenty of potential and will likely be the 2018 starter there.
RG: Michael Onwenu, Sophomore
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There is a vacancy at right guard, and sophomore Michael Onwenu is a natural choice to fill it. Onwenu was one of the top reserves in 2016, and the 6'3", 375-pound sophomore is a clear promotion candidate this fall. Redshirt freshman Stephen Spanellis will be a key candidate to back him up.
RT: Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Junior
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As a sophomore, Juwann Bushell-Beatty made his most significant contributions. When Grant Newsome went down with a knee injury, Bushell-Beatty was forced into the rotation and was serviceable, making one start and taking snaps as a tackle in nine games on the season. He's ready for a bigger role and will get it in 2017, with Nolan Ulizio contributing behind him.
DE: Rashan Gary, Sophomore
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Michigan is replacing 10 starters on defense, but there is one rock-solid certainty: Rashan Gary will be a starting defensive end. Gary, the nation's consensus top recruit last winter, played in all 12 games but didn't make a start as a freshman, recording 27 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack.
He'll move into the starting lineup as a sophomore, and while the 6'5", 290-pound athlete could fit in at defensive tackle as well, Gary will be an excellent fit terrorizing quarterbacks off the edge. Redshirt freshman Carlo Kemp and senior Lawrence Marshall should also contribute.
DT: Maurice Hurst, Senior
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Michigan will need senior leadership this fall, and Maurice Hurst can provide it. The fifth-year senior is a solid contributor who made 34 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a junior and should build on those numbers in his final season in blue.
Behind him, Philip Paea and Donovan Jeter will provide quality depth, but Hurst is the clear starter here.
DT: Bryan Mone, Junior
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Bryan Mone was a solid, if not spectacular, contributor as a sophomore, making 12 tackles and one tackle for loss. He has a body built for the interior, however, standing 6'4", 310 pounds. Mone played as a true freshman but redshirted with a leg injury in 2015. Backing him up will be sophomore Michael Dwumfour, who saw action as a true freshman last fall.
DE: Chase Winovich, Senior
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Chase Winovich made a major move for playing time as a junior, piling up 35 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was one of the Wolverines' most reliable pass-rushers and will be counted on for an even bigger role as a senior. This position functions as a hybrid end-linebacker spot, and expect freshman Ron Johnson and sophomore Reuben Jones to spell Winovich and make impacts.
LB: Mike McCray, Senior
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Michigan has only one returning starter on defense, but senior middle linebacker Mike McCray will be a key leader. He emerged as a starter as a junior and was good in the middle of the defense, making 76 tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He's also good in pass coverage with a pair of interceptions.
Behind him, expect sophomore Elysee Mbem-Bosse to back him up and be groomed for a bigger role as a junior.
LB: Devin Bush, Sophomore
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If you're looking for a player who could make the leap from backup to standout starter in 2017 on Michigan's roster, you could do a lot worse than sophomore Devin Bush.
Bush played mostly on special teams as a freshman and made 12 tackles, but he has good athleticism and can cover in the passing game while also blitzing the quarterback.
Expect freshmen Jordan Anthony and Joshua Ross to also push for playing time. There's room for multiple players to see time here.
LB: Josh Metellus, Sophomore
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It's impossible to replace someone with the all-around impact that Heisman Trophy finalist Jabrill Peppers made for Michigan in all phases of the game. But at least on defense, sophomore Josh Metellus will get the opportunity.
Metellus played as a safety last fall, making 15 tackles with a sack. But he has the skills to fill the hybrid strong-side linebacker spot that Peppers will leave behind. Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown is excited about him, per Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com.
"This Josh Metellus, now, we're really excited about him. He can play safety and he can kind of be the poor man's Jabrill Peppers, too. He has to get a little bigger, maybe. But he can do a lot of the things (on defense) that we ask Jabrill to do. Now, I'm not saying he's Jabrill Peppers. I'm just saying he can be the poor man's Jabrill Peppers. We're excited about him. I think he could play either safety position (too). An intelligent, understands-concept guy.
"
Junior Jordan Glasgow, a walk-on and younger brother of Graham and Ryan Glasgow, also fits in well here and will make an impact as a backup.
CB: Jeremy Clark, Senior
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Michigan has four openings in the secondary, and the Wolverines badly need some experience to mentor young players. They need Jeremy Clark to return. Clark has played in 36 games with 49 tackles in his career with three interceptions, and he was making a difference last fall before a torn ACL ended his season after four games. Michigan has applied for a sixth year of eligibility for him, per Baumgardner, and if the NCAA approves, it would be a huge boost.
If the request is denied, junior Brandon Watson, who made 12 tackles last fall and also has significant special teams experience, will play an even bigger role. Freshman David Long will also figure in the mix.
S: Tyree Kinnel, Junior
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Michigan has some good options at safety, but one of the best is junior Tyree Kinnel. He made a real push as a sophomore, contributing on special teams and as a backup safety while making 17 tackles and one tackle for loss.
Moving into a starting role is an obvious progression for him. Early enrollees J'Marick Woods and Jaylen Kelly-Powell could also push for time, assuming their acclimation to college life goes well.
S: Khaleke Hudson, Sophomore
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Michigan will be young in the secondary, and sophomore Khaleke Hudson will be expected to make a leap forward in his second season on campus. A physical, athletic player, Hudson made eight tackles while mostly contributing on special teams as a freshman. Behind him, if Woods and Kelly-Powell don't fit at free safety, they could also contribute behind Hudson at strong safety.
CB: Lavert Hill, Sophomore
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As a freshman, Lavert Hill made noise with his versatility. He was a reserve cornerback but also saw time at free safety, starting against Michigan State. He made nine tackles overall and is poised for a more significant role as a sophomore as a starting cornerback. He will be pushed hard by a pair of freshman early enrollees in Benjamin St-Juste and Ambry Thomas, but let's give Hill the edge for now.
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